Van Loon Claims Bronze at Laupheim Junior Epee World Cup

Nina Van Loon had a career-day at the Laupheim
Junior Epee World Cup, advancing to the quarterfinals for the first
time in her career and claiming a bronze medal. Click here for thoughts she recently shared on
competing internationally (Photo: Gil Talbot).

Laupheim, Germany – Nina van Loon of the
Harvard women’s fencing team picked up a bronze medal at the
Laupheim Junior Epee World Cup in Laupheim, Germany Saturday
evening. The Harvard freshman joined Princeton sophomore Kat Holmes
on the podium as the Ivy League duo tied for third.

Van Loon posted a 5-1 record in her pools to earn a ninth-seed
and bye into the table of 64, where she led Francoise Herren of
Switzerland by one touch, 14-13, as time ticked down in the second
period. Herron evened the score at 14 with four seconds left in the
stanza, but van Loon put Herren away with two quick touches in the
third period.

In the table of 32, van Loon found herself in an early hole,
down 7-4 to Germany’s Julia Morawietz. The Boulder, Colo.,
native stormed back with six consecutive touches to take a 10-7
lead and went on to win 15-12 to advance to the quarterfinals for
the first time in her career.

Van Loon topped Phillippine Tachot of France, 15-4, and advanced
to the medal rounds. She finished the day with a bronze medal after
falling to 2012 Junior World medalist Katrina Lehis, a fencer from
Estonia.

Team USA earned four of the top eight finishes, with van Loon
and Holmes pacing the Americans with a pair of bronze medals.

Van Loon will compete with the Harvard women’s fencing
team in the St. John’s Invitational Jan. 26 in Queens,
N.Y.